Valve-operating mechanism



July 5,197. 634,764

- J. B. WILSON VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Fild Dec. 23, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 5 1927.

J. B. WILSON VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1925 J'. B .'Wi lson INVENTOR ATTQRN EY 4 m 5 a HR 4 e 00 3 h T 6 8 0. S W- Mw -.m

B B l W1 O mew vNF 7 a 4 m 5 5 m I J w ATTORNEY Patented July 5; 1927;

UNITE =STArr gATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BANonorr wrLsoN, or. CHICAGO, 'iizn nors, essieuoa To WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING CGMPANY, A ooaroaarion or PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANIS Application filed December 23,1925; Serial No. 77,417.

My invention relates to valve operating mechanism, more particularly operating mechanism for the valves of prime movers,

and has for an object to provide an apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple in design and easy of manufacture, capable of effecting close regulation of the valves operated, and which shall embody a minimum of linkage in the transmission of controlling movements. 7

A further object of my invention'is to provide a fluid pressure operated relay device for a valve operating apparatus wherein the control valve is so designed that the power element thereof moves in increments responsive to displacement of the control valve without the intermediary of linkage betweenthe valve and the power element.

Apparatus embodyingfeatures of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying,

and Figure 4 is a detailed view in perspec-- tive of the piston member and rotary valve embodied in the relay.

Heretofore, in the operation of prime movers of relatively large capacity, dithculties have been encountered in designing the valve operating apparatus therefor in such a manner asto avoid a multiplicity of external linkage. -This has'been especially true where the valves'to be operated by the governing mechanism are of such size as to require the intermediary of a power operated relay between the governing mechanism and the valve said relay operating in such a manner that the power element thereof moves in increments responsive to movements of the governing mechanism. The provision of a multiplicityof external linkage in a valve operating mechanism has been found objectionabl'e'because it complicates the apparatus and adds to its hazards of failure. 7

In accordance with my invention 1 provide governing apparatus embodying a well known form of centrifugal governor and interpose, between the governor and the valve which it is to operate, a thud pressure operated relay of such design that there is' required a minimum of link between the governor and the relay. T he relay operates by means of a rotary valve and a single acting piston, fluid pressure being employed to actuate the piston in one direction and biasing means for actuating it in the'oppo site direction. The relayvalve is so dc signed that when it rotates the piston is moved in either direction by increments r sponsive to the angular valve.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention I show in Fig. l a turbine "10 havin a motive fluid supply conduit 11 and an'admission valve 12. In the drawing. Fig.1,the motive huid supply conduit and the admiss on valve are shown relatlvely large'for the purpose of clearness of illustration. At 15 is shown a displacement the well known form of centrifugal governor having an arm or lever 13 which rises and falls in response to increases and decreases in speed of the turbine in a manner well known in the art.- The lever '13 transmits movements of the governor 15 to arelay 14, to be described later. through the'intermediary of a single link 16.

At 17 is shown a pump, for example a gear pump, havinga fluid discharge conduit- 19. The pump 1? pumps fluid from a reservoir 21 and discharges itthrough the conduit 19 to the fluid pressure operated re lay lt. At 22 is shown a by-pass conduit connecting the discharge conduit 19 and the intake conduit 18 and having disposed there in a relief valve-28. The bypass conduit and the relief valve 28 serve to insure a predetermined pressure from the pump 17 to the relay 14. The relay 14 is supported from the admission valve 12 by. means of a suitable framework 24. Movements of the power elementof the relay 1a are transmitted to the admission valve 12 through a transverse member 26 which is connected to a pair of yoke members 27 -22 which are in turn connected to the admission valve 12 through the intermediary of a second transversemember 28and the valve stem 29. A.

lay 1a in a direction-for closing thevalve lit) in a manner more particularly to he dc-- scribed later.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4:, the rcla v id: embodies an operating cylinder 32 having disposed therein a single acting power element or operating piston 33. The operating piston 32-5 is provided with a relatively large stern portion S-l extending outwardly therefrom and which is connected to the trai'isvcrse inoinher by means of a screw and nut connection Fluid pressure is admitted to the under side of the piston through a longitudinal pa=sage 37, said passage extending longitudinally of the stem portion Ill through the piston The longitudinal passage 37 is intersected by a dianietral transverse passage 38 which e ztends entirely across the ilCll'l portion 3%.

Surrounding: the stem portion ill of the piston 33 is a rotary valve 4C1 which is actu ated by the governor arm 13 through the intermediary ol the linl: 1(3 and a valve handle 1-2. The valve l1 is disposed within a housing l8 forming a part of the upper cover of the cylinder A flange it is provided at the upper portion of the valve ell in order to prevent longitudinal movements thercol" while leaving it free to rotate with respect to the piston and stem portion Provided in the valve ll are a pair of diametrically opposed ports 4:6 and The port 46 is connected at all times with the fluid pressure conduit 19 and the port communicates with the upper end or the cylinder 32 by means of a passage t8, while the upper end of the cylinder 32 is open to the exhaust at all times through the intermediary of a conduit 49 which leads to the fluid reservoir 21.

The ports to and 4-.7 are in the term truncated triangles, or trapezoidal in term, and are so di posed that when the valve all is rotated one of the ports is opened and the other is simultaneously closed. For exalnple. referring to l igure -l, it the valve at is rotated in a clock-wise direction the port 4t? is rotated until the point A is opposite the transverse pas==age 38 closing one end ot said passage, and the point B in port ll) opposite the transverse passage 38. in this position fluid under pressure from the conduit l9 passe through the port sit) into the transverse passage 38 and from thence passes to the cylinder beneath the piston and lore s the piston outwardly. The pi ton 33 moves outwardlv until the passage #38 moves over the edge of the port ll) when no more fluid pressure can pass therellnougrh and the relay is in neutral or lap position. If the valve -ll be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction from that shown in lligurc at until the transverse passage 38 is opposite the point C, above the port 46, the port rotates until the transverse passage is at the point D. lu this position fluid beneath the piston W is tree to flow through the passage 37, transverse passage 23S, passage in and conduit l!) to the exhaust. The spring hl now forces the ltllIlliISlUn valve l2 in a closing direction and the piston inwardly ol the cylinder 32. i

The movement just described continues until the stem portion Ell has moved downwardly a sullicient amount that the transverse passage 38 is again covered by the valve ll and the relay it is again in neutral or lap position. it may thus be seen that for each movement of the groverni'ir in there is a dclinite niovenicnt ot the power element of the relay l ft and that the admission valve 12 is opened or closed by del'inito increments responsive to movements of the governor to and to the angular displacement of the rotary valve 41.

\Vhcn the turbine is at rest the governor ar1n l3 is at its lowe t position and the port all is wide open. There being no pressure however in the conduit 19, the spring 3i forces the :uhnission alve 152 closed and the piston inwardly of the cylinder 32. in order that the tur'Ldne may he started I provide an auxiliary pinup i which discharges through a conduit 52 to the conduit 19. The iluid under pressrue thus admitted to the conduit 19 passes through the port d6, passages 38 and passage 3? to the under side of piston 33, opening the admission valve 12, and permitting the turhine to be started. A check valve 53 is provided in the conduit 52, to prevent back ilow of fluid from the conduit 19 when the pump 17 is in operation and the turbine has been started.

FY0111 the foregoing description the opera tion of apparatus made in accordance with ray invention will be apparent. When the turbine running and there is an increment in speed the lever .13 ot governor is raised musing, a rotation of the valve ll in such a manner as to open the message of the stern portion il-t ol the piston :33 to the port 417. l luid beneath the piston 33 is now free to i no llow through the passage 38. passage 37' and port all to the exhaust and the spring ll. tort-es the admission valve 12 in :11 closing direction. This closing univcuicnt continues until the slain Ill has moved a sullicienl: anuunit that the passage 38 is blanked oil from the port -ll-l. tlhould there he a decrease in ruined the lever :u'iu lil lowers and the valve 4-1 is rotated so that the passage llis placed in connuuuicatiou with the fluid pri-ssuri adrui... on port ll' ol' the valve ll and fluid under prw sure passes throtuzh the port t6, the passage He and passage 37 into the operating cylinder like and 'l'orces the piston 31) outwardly of said cylinder openiru the tttll'illSlllOll valve This opening movement continues until the port ell is blanked oil bv the valve ll. and is in direct proportion to the angular displacement ot the valve or the prime mover.

il. So long as there is a steady load-onthe turbine 10 and no fluctuations in speed, the piston 33 is maintained in this position. If leakageoccur through the piston 33 permitting it to move slightly inward, the passage 38 would again "be in communication With the fluid pressure admission port 46 permit ting a suflicicnt amount of fluid under pres sure to pass through the passage 38 so as to maintain the piston in its fixed position against leakage.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that l have devised an improved valve operating mechanism for a prime mover, embodying a fluid pressure operated relay, capable ot'effe'cting close regulation of the valve controlled and wherein a minimum of linkage is employed in transmitting movements ot'governing mechanism to the valve li hile I have shown my invention in but one. form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, theretore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as-are imposed by-the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. Thecombination with a prime mover having a valve to be operated, of means responsive to the speed of the prime mover, and a fluid pressure operated relay for transmitting movements of the means responsive to speed to the valve, comprising an operating cylinder, :1 reciprocable piston therein, a stem for the piston having ports therein for the admission and exhaust of fluid under pressure thereto, a valve surrounding the stem andhaving fluid admission and exhaust ports cooperating with the ports of the piston stem, and operating means connecting the speed responsive means and the valve.

9. The combination with a prime mover having energy controlling means, of means responsive to the speed ofthe'prlme mover,

and a fluid pressure operated relay for trans- 3. The combination with a prime mover' having energy controlling means, of means responsive to the speed of the prime mover,

and a fluid pressure operated relay for transmitting movements or the means responsive to speed to the energy controlling means, comprising an operating cylinder, a reciprocable piston therein, a stem for the piston having ports therein for the admission and exhaust ot fluid underpressure thereto, a rotary valve surrounding the stem and having fluid admission and exhaust ports 00-.

operating with the ports of the piston stem, said'ports being adapted to snnultaneously 7 open and close upon angular displacementot means, comprising an operating cylinder, a

reciprocable piston therein, a stem for the piston having ports therein for the adimssion and exhaust otfluid under pressure thereto, arotary valve surrounding the stem and having fluid admission and exhaust speed responsive means and-the valvefor rotating the valve.

5. A fluid pressure operated relay for a valve operating mechanism comprising an operating cylinder having a reciprocable piston disposed therein with a stem extending outwardly of the cylinder, a longitudinally extending passage provided in the stem and passing through the piston, -a transverse passage extending across the stem and intersecting the longitudinal passage, a rotatable valve surrounding the piston stem, opposed ports provided in the valve adapted to cooperate withthe-transverse passage of the piston stem for the admission and exhaust of motive fluid from the operating cylinder and-adapted to open and close in response to angular displacement of the rotary valve, and means for rotatlng the valve.

lot;

6. A fluid pressure operated relay for a valve operating mechanism comprising an operating cylinder having a reclprocable piston disposed therein with a stem extending outvvardly of the cylinder, a longitudinally extending passage provided in the stem and passing through the piston, a diametral passage extending across the stem and intersecting the longitudinal passage, a rot-atable'valve surrounding the piston stem, diametrically opposed ports provided in the valve adapted to cooperate With the transverse passage of the piston stem for the admission and exhaust 0t motive fluid from the operating cylinders and adapted to open and close in response to angular displacement oi the rotary *alve, and means for rotating' the valve.

7. A fluid. pressure operated relay for a valve operating: mechanism comprising an operatinacylinder having a reciprocahle piston dispo ed therein with a stem extend inn outwardly ot the cylinder, a longitudinally extending; passage provided in the stern and passing through the piston tor conveying: pressure to and from one face of the piston. a transverse passage extending across the stem and intersecting the longitudinal passage. a rotatable valve surrounding the piston stem. :1 pair of elongated opposed ports provided in the valve and adapted to cooperate with the passage in the piston stem, each of .said ports having: a wall so exteniling as to narrow one (Ii the ports at one end in the direction oi? rotation of the valve whereby the opposing; ports are opened or closed upon rotation of the valve, means providinp; fluid pressure to one of the ports, an exhaust conduit connecting with the other port means for rotating the valve, and biasing; means for moving the piston in a direction opposite to that when moved by the fluid pressure.

8. lhe combination with a prime mover having an admission valve, of a speed responsive mechaniF-tm for controlling the admission valve, and a, fluid pressure operated relay for transmitting: movements oil. the speed responsive mechanism to the admission valve comprising an operating cylinder. a piston disposed Within the cylinder for moving the admission valve in one direction, a spring: for moving the admission valve in the opposite direction, a stem portion provided on the piston extending out- \rardly of the cylinder and provided with ports and paesaa'es communicating with the active side of the piston a rotatable valve SUl'BOUlMiilltl' the stem portion and having fluid pressure admission and exhaust ports adapted to cooperate With the ports in the stem portion upon rotation of the valve, and a single link connection between the speed responsive mechanism and the valve for rotating the valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed in name this fourth day of December,

JOSEPH BANOROFT WILSON. 

